Israel to receive US made military plane

The Israeli Air Force’s fleet is scheduled to receive its first US made new Lockheed-Martin C-130J transport plane dubbed Samson in Israel today, Israel’s Haaretz newspaper reported.

The new plane is the first in a deal which aims to develop the Israeli Air Force military capabilities. According to the paper the military transport plane can carry 92 paratroopers with their equipment and four military vehicles and fly at lower altitudes than previous carriers. Haaretz said that Israel will receive two additional transport planes of the same model in June next year.

Israel’s Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper said in February that the Israeli Air Force was planning to purchase three Lockheed-Martin C-130J to join its fleet. The paper pointed out that Israel will introduce new technological systems to the plane.

The Lockheed Martin C-130J “Super” Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft with a 40-metre long wing and can fly up to 600 kilometres per hour and carry up to 120 soldiers and up to 20,000 kilograms of military equipment.